I’ve now been in Korea three months, and while I understand national pride is a trait found in every country… I don’t understand Korea’s youth ignorant pride and current trend to shun 漢字 (Hanja, Hanzi, or Kanji) by any other pronunciation.

For example… I live in 한남동, or Hannam-dong, or more appropriately 漢南洞…. Which means “China”, “South”, and “Caves”… So it wouldn’t be a stretch to call it “Caves of South China”.

Some Korean translators have told me that “Hannam” was only named such because of its location inbetween the Namsan and Han River…. And here’s where I start to chuckle. Even by this explanation, supposedly the name comes from the names of those two locations… Let’s take a look at the 漢字… We have:

Namsan or 南山 for South Mountain
And
Han River or 漢江 for Chinese River.

Now, I won’t say each, or every time, but when I have talked about the spelling of the Han River, Koreans will automatically attempt* to write 韓 for “Korea”… And when I tell them they are wrong… They get upset and try to defend it saying it’s the Korean River. I ask them to look it up, and they (the upset ones) will continue just to deny the correct spelling, say I am wrong, and continue to get offended.

I then ask that if they are so offended by their own official spelling of Han (China, not Korea), then why don’t they stage a protest or movement and attempt to change world opinion like they keep attempting to do with 竹島 (Takeshima), 日本海 (Sea of Japan), or the 黄海 (Yellow Sea).
Any thoughts?

*Note: I’ll put this here to not further digress, but to emphasize the point I make above–that the ~30 and below generation of Koreans do not know how to write Chinese words used in the Korean language… Or even know which word is really Korean or not. For example, one of the words most associated with Korean culture is: 감사합니다 (kamsahabnida) means thank you (with a korean ending making it a polite word)…. But this is not a Korean word. The same word exists in both Japanese and Chinese–because it is a Chinese word 感謝… Meaning a feeling of thanks. The Japanese (young and old) acknowledge the words that are Chinese in nature… So why don’t the younger Koreans? (Older Koreans I’ve spoken to at least acknowledge words that come from China, but have still debated the spelling of Han River)

Beijing has done some things that others may consider crazy, but have you heard about their version of War on Drugs?

In the United States, there is continued documentation that Blacks are more likely to be arrested and jailed for their use of drugs, over Whites-even when statistics show that Whites are more likely to use them. This is probably caused by police generally only searching for drug activity in low-income area… but what sort of message does this send?

You may remember Robert Downey Jr (yes, Ironman) finally being sentenced to prison in 1999 after repeatedly violating parole after being convicted for possession of heroin, cocaine and a firearm (in 1996); however, it was a long struggle to get him there. Were he black and not famous, he probably would have ended up in jail sooner…or shot because of the firearm.

But then there is China. They are working attempting to find a solution that is diametrically opposed to how we in the United States have been attempting (failing?) to solve the problem…and would probably upset a majority of the citizens in the United States. China is going after famous people-to make a statement.

On August 14, Chinese police arrested Jackie Chan’s son, Jaycee Chan, and a Taiwanese actor (among other people at the drug bust). And they continue to look forward to arresting more famous people. According to the article, “in the past couple of months, 11 celebrities” have been arrested for drug use… but that’s not where it ends. In China, the police send those arrested for drugs to detention centers for detox. And should that person be considered an addict their mandatory “stay” goes from 15 days to three years. With an additional three years for “community rehabilitation”. There is no jury trial, as the cops have found these criminals with drugs or drugs in their system and there is no need to “prove it” before a judge. The Taiwanese actor was released on 29 Aug; however Jackie Chan’s son remains in detention. Since January, 8,400 individuals have been detained.

On top of being detained, these individuals are then registered in a database where police can come back at any time to verify if they are or are not using drugs. There’s an example cited that talks about a man, who hadn’t used (been arrested for) drugs for 10 years, who checked into a hotel and around 3am in the morning, police barged in to the room and forced him to do a urine test and subjected him to questioning. Could you imagine this being used as “probable cause” to re-arrest someone to conduct a urine check to determine if the person does or does not have drugs in his or her system?

Is this a violation of privacy or sending a strong enough message that people shouldn’t use drugs?

(photo credit goes to me… I took this photo 🙂 )
Thursday, 15 May, was a great milestone victory for Japan; they are moving forward with collective self defense–which means (among other things) that if an American vessel and Japanese vessel are patrolling together and only the American vessel comes under fire, both vessels would be able to “collectively” defend each other. As it has been in the past, Japan’s interpretation of the American-imposed constitution would have forbidden such action. However, China (mostly) and South Korea are voicing concerns over Japan’s reversion to its militant past. This is just China’s way of stirring up nationalism using hatred of an old enemy through asinine propaganda.

But why is this even an issue? Why was the Empire of Japan treated differently than the Third Reich? Germany who had started two world wars and conducted the mass genocide of the Jewish people with the Holocaust… Japan fought regional wars (China and Russia) but then in 1931 they decided to expand further into China and after criticism, embargoes and threats from the United States eventually convinced Japan they had no other course of action and joined the world war with the attack on Pearl Harbor.

At the end of the war, Germany was seen as an immediate investment as a “speed bump” between the a Soviet Union and the European Nation states; but Japan… The first Asian country to stand toe-to-toe and best many (if not most) of the western countries… With no immediate threat, it appears they “needed to be taught a lesson”. So while both Japan and Germany have “peaceful” constitutions, only Japan was forced to receive the ‘shall not possess war-making capabilities’ that has restricted her military to this day. However, during the Korean War (or also interpreted as the fight against the spread of communism), the US realized having a crippled japan wouldn’t be helpful against the soviets and modified the interpretation if the constitution, giving us the Japan Self Defense Forces (JSDF) of today.

As the JSDF regain their original composure, hopefully too they can be re-instated as a full military… Ready to take on any foe that may try to challenge Japan’s freedoms, way of life, or territorial integrity.

On 3 May, China stepped up their aggressiveness by using electronic warfare on the open seas. They jammed two Philippine military airplanes, causing a loss of communication and navigation equipment forcing them to “fly blind”. The aircraft were flying over contested waters in the South China Sea. The Philippines has encouraged China to work out a solution diplomatically, but China has continuously refused.

The Philippines and Japan have become closer over the past few months as both have faced the brunt of Chinese aggression with respect to territorial disputes between the two countries. Japan has praised the Philippines on its arbitration case and both countries commented on the Japan’s generosity for increasing the Philippine Coast Guard in this time of need.

If China maintains this pace, they’re not going to have any friends left, except North Korea… do you agree?

If you’re unaware, Confucius ( #孔子, who was really Master Kong) was an avid philosopher and politician that stressed above all else, ethical behavior. Taking this into context, here’s what Confucius might have to say were he alive today.

子曰。夷狄之有君、不如諸夏之亡也。
The Master said: “The tribes of the East and North (Koreans and Mongolians), though having kings, are not equal to our people, even when lacking kings,”

If there is only one thing China seems to be following of Confucius teachings, this seems to be it–albeit misguidedly. All of his teachings are about enlightenment and learning the “way;” however, China’s continued aggressive actions against all of its neighbors (recently Vietnam, the Philippines, and Japan), seems to indicate they have forgotten, or choose to ignore, “the way.” This teaching was meant to emphasize that China was culturally superior and thus, should help lead the way as a role model…

子曰。爲政以德、譬如北辰居其所而衆星共之。
The Master said: “If you govern with the power of your virtue, you will be like the North Star. It just stays in its place while all the other stars position themselves around it.”

Obviously instead of wanting to be the North Star, China wants to be like Haley’s Comet… travelling far and wide and only periodically returning to where they started. China has not acted virtuously with respect to foreign countries, or to its own people. Recently China arrested PU Zhiqiang (浦志强) and several other members after a small meeting to discuss the Rape of Tiananmen (25 years ago this June). Beijing preemptively arrested PU and others to ensure there would be no “instances” during the 25 year anniversary of the massacre.

子曰。不患無位、患所以立。 不患莫己知、求爲可知也。
The Master said: “I don’t worry about not having a good position; I worry about the means I use to gain position. I don’t worry about being unknown; I seek to be known in the right way.”

With China’s unprovoked attack on the Vietnamese coast guard vessels, Beijing has demonstrated that they have “the position” of power and wish to only be known in a “bad way”. Unilaterally exercising one’s power in a contested area shows that someone is only concerned with “Might makes Right” (Thrasymachus’ point of view per Plato) and not international norms.

子曰。視其所以、觀其所由、察其所安。人焉廋哉。人焉廋哉
The Master said: “See a person’s means (of getting things). Observe his motives. Examine that in which he rests. How can a person conceal his character? How can a person conceal his character?”

As I’ve been discussing over the past few months, China obviously wants it known that they only care about China. Their motives, even though it goes against their Peace Treaty with Japan, are to be the hegemony within Asia… and their progressively aggressive stance seems to indicate they either won’t (or can’t) stop until they achieve their “manifest destiny”.

子曰。道之以政、齊之以刑、民免而無恥。道之以德、齊之以禮、有恥且格。
The Master said: “If you govern the people legalistically and control them by punishment, they will avoid crime, but have no personal sense of shame. If you govern them by means of virtue and control them with propriety, they will gain their own sense of shame, and thus correct themselves.”

Beijing must have forgotten these words of wisdom as well. China has the highest Death Penalty rate in the world and still people commit crime—although you must take into consideration that one such crime is to talk about the Rape of Tiananmen. The US also has a high crime rate, but our laws are (generally) voted in place by the people and are subjected to other checks and balances. As China seems to operate by “rule by law” instead of “rule of law,” it is not ‘shame’ that governs Chinese Citizens’ actions, their actions are governed by the fear of not wanting to be run over by a tank.

子曰。能以禮讓爲國乎、何有 不能以禮讓爲國、如禮何
The Master said: “If you can govern the country by putting propriety first, what else will you need to do? If you can’t govern your country by putting propriety first, how could you even call it propriety?”(Note: ‘Propriety’ is just one translation, which means “justness” or “conformity to standards”)

Justness, is by no means “Might making Right” which seems to be the Chinese Communist Party’s current motto… a far cry from their original motto of “Serve the People” (为人民服务). Unless of course, China takes this interpretation to mean the needs the people (against the state) are to serve jail sentences…

As the Philippines heads to first base through the filing of its territorial dispute lawsuit against China; Vietnam is now up to bat.

On 6 May (today in Asia), newspapers announced China’s decision to conduct deep-sea drilling near the Paracel islands—a set of islands South Vietnam held during the US occupation of South Vietnam; however, when the US left, China took the opportunity to seize the islands by invading the islands in 1974 and killing ~70 Vietnamese soldiers. The Paracel Islands lie some 200 miles off the coast of Vietnam (Da Nang); whereas when comparing to China, it is ~500 miles from Hong Kong or ~300 miles from Hainan Island.

Vietnam has largely been quiet over this issue…until now. As memorial services have started appearing (last one I’m familiar with was the 40th anniversary of the invasion last year in January) and now as Beijing begins exercising its “right” over the resources in what Vietnam believes is their Economic Exclusive Zone (or EEZ), Hanoi is forced to address this issue with one of its closest ideological neighbors.

Vietnam is backed by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (or UNCLOS), showing that Vietnam holds the EEZ through its definition. But China won’t listen. As reported earlier, Vietnam has been meeting with other Southeast Asian States (Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and sometimes Brunei) to work on a joint strategy for battling China’s aggressive actions…. But so far, only the Philippines has brought China to court (see here).

Going back to lovely baseball metaphors… As China has thrown yet another pitch; will Vietnam get another strike, or will they be able to score a base hit?

On 4 June 1989, the pro-democracy movement that was rising within China… Was squished. There weren’t debates to show why communism was better or why democracy was bad… The protesters were executed by the military with the invocation of martial law.

Numbers of killed citizens range from hundreds to thousands; with the main iconic image of Chinese tanks running over an unarmed protester that refused to move.

To speak of this incident within China is Forbidden. Almost ironic, as this square is is right across from the entrance to the Forbidden city; where everyone is now allowed to enter.

So, since it’s forbidden to speak of in mainland China, a group (the Alliance) in Hong Kong is now spreading the message. They’ve opened a “deadly protest museum” featuring the Tiananmen Square incident (read as Chinese Communists executing unarmed, democratic protestors). This will hopefully allow a sharing of information between the two entities (HK and mainland China), since China restricts the information both to it’s citizens and the outside world.